Workers inspect wind damage to the roof of a local church in Medicine Hat in this January 2021 file photo. Statistics Canada's report for June shows the jobless rate in the region remained steady at 5.3 per cent.--News File Photo
@MedicineHatNews
The jobless rate in the region remained about level in June at 5.3 per cent, while the provincial rate rose, according to figures from Statistics Canada released Friday.
The local rate for the combined Lethbridge-Medicine Hat economic region fell by one-tenth of a percentage point compared to the same time last year, and is down from 5.6 per cent in May.
The rate for the province rose to 7.1 per cent, up 1.3 percentage points, led by a large increase in Calgary.
Outside the major centres in southern Alberta, Statistics Canada said about 2,000 new full-time jobs were added compared to May, and nearly 15,000 over 12 months.
However, the size of the labour force in the combined region grew by nearly 20,000 workers to sit as 176,200 between the two mid-sized cities and rural areas. About 9,300 people were looking for work.
In Calgary, the unemployment rate jumped 2.3 points higher to sit above 8 per cent. Edmonton (up 1.1 points to 7.1 per cent), Red Deer (1.4, 7.3 per cent) and Fort McMurray (0.8, 5.5 per cent) also recorded higher unemployment than in June 2023.
Camrose-Drumheller’s rate fell by a point to 4.5 per cent. Northeastern Alberta was even at 5.3 per cent.
Saskatchewan’s jobless rate of 5.6 per cent was also about one point higher, and the Swift Current-Moose Jaw figure was 6.0 per cent.
Manitoba’s rate of 5 per cent was lowest among the provinces.
